Cold Link Africa Jul/Aug 2016 Vol 1 No 6 | Page 21

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN

OTTC celebrates

new ammonia graduates
By Ilana Koegelenberg

I

On 9 June OTTC invited industry to join them in celebrating the graduation
of the six students who have just completed the five-week OTTC Ammonia
diploma at the training centre.

t was a joyous day for Isolde Döbelin,
owner of OTTC, who explained that the
training centre has been experiencing a

tough couple of years due to falling victim
to a cyber-attack and having its website
hacked. But things are looking up again and
the classrooms are full.
Since Döbelin’s late husband, Peter,
started the training centre in 1992, more
than 300 students have already completed
the Ammonia diploma. She explained
to guests in attendance that when they
first started the centre, no qualification in
ammonia was available locally, which is
why they decided to develop the diploma.
The six students were called to the front

From left: Isolde Döbelin, Sithembiso B Dlamini, Bob Vuletic, Thomas Shilamba, Kurt Johannsen, Jeandré Karele,
Clinton Kayser, Paul Kruger and Jan-Roelof Versluis.
4. Clinton Kayser from Appletiser,
Grabouw;
5. Paul Kruger from Karsten Boerdery,
Kanoneiland; and
6. Jan-Roelof Versluis from Karsten

education. “This will turn them into good
technicians and that’s what this industry
needs,” she said.
“This is my plan and you can forget
retirement!” said Döbelin at the function.

Boerdery, Kanoneiland.
WorldSkills
Impumelelo Award

CO2 diploma

Döbelin also mentioned that the national

Congratulations to OTTC for being
awarded a certificate of excellence from
Impumelelo Top Empowered Companies
‘in recognition of their commitment to
transformation in the year of 2016’.

Next up, OTTC will tackle a CO2 diploma.

WorldSkills competition is around the corner

They are currently building an onsite

and that it is not too late to enter students (if

cascade transcritical CO2 plant for

they are 22 or younger in 2017). So far only

training purposes with the help of German

nine students have been entered, most of

engineers. Döbelin expects everything to

them from OTTC. “We need more students

be up and running, ready for the first intake

from other training centres; I cannot compete

by March 2017.

against myself every year,” said Döbelin.

and OTTC cap. They also each received a

On the job training

in South Africa for many years and all

copy of the Handbook of Ammonia Safety,

Döbelin mentioned that she was looking

the competitors have been trained

sponsored by Johnson Controls.

for more companies to provide students

in her academy for the last couple of

with hands‑on experience, as this was vital

competitions.

Döbelin has been backing WorldSkills

and presented with their official certificates

The graduates were:

to supplementing the theory learnt in the

1. Sithembiso B Dlamini from Swaziland

courses. Currently only Cubicool takes in

A new lecturer

students from OTTC, but ideally Döbelin

Döbelin also called to the front the 2011

would like four or five different companies

WorldSkills competitor, De Wet Brits, who is

to rotate the students for a couple of

the latest lecturer to join the OTTC team.

months so they can experience different

Brits recently relocated from Middelburg to

work environments before continuing their

pursue his passion for education.

Meat Industries;
2. Thomas Shilamba from Meat Co
Windhoek, Nambia;
3. Jeandré Karele from Endaver
Refrigeration & Engineering, Boksburg;

CLA

COLD LINK AFRICA • July | August 2016

De Wet Brits, new OTTC lecturer.
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za

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